Britons 'optimistic about next year's holidays'

Most British people are looking forward to the ferry breaks and other holidays they have planned for next year with optimism, according to a travel expert.

Kate Kenward, executive director of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), said that travel trends this year have already shown that British people will continue to take holidays, regardless of the financial difficulties they are facing.

Ferries to France, Spain and other European destinations could prove a popular option next year, with Ms Kenward predicting that the eurozone will be a leading holiday region for UK travellers.

"We have seen this year that holidays are not something that Britons want to cut back on and, coupled with the feeling that the worst of the recession is behind us, people are more optimistic about their holiday plans for 2010," the AITO director said.

"This is likely to see expenditure rise and I expect the eurozone countries to become more popular next year."

People interested in visiting France can catch ferries to Calais, Le Havre, St Malo and other ports with operators including Seafrance, LD Lines and Brittany Ferries.

P&O Ferries provides easy access to Spain with its ferries to Bilbao from Portsmouth, while Brittany Ferries operates a Santander ferry route from both Portsmouth and Plymouth.

Written by Andrew Smith